Article dispenser with agitator means



Nov. 26, 1968 A. H. BALLER 3,412,896

ARTICLE DISPENSER WITH AGITATOR MEANS Filed July 14, 1967 '7 l l I l "/6 -40 J5- F'O'} 40 J O #544 0 g 0 m" Z2; Z5

I I l I 31 1512111: :jllfjjjjij::iifliiijl 478627- 2 HBaCCeP United States Patent 3,412,896 ARTICLE DISPENSER WITH AGITATOR MEANS Albert H. Baller, 59 Beech St., Clinton, Mass. 01945 Filed July 14, 1967, Ser. No. 653,377 6 Claims. (Cl. 221-200) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A dispenser for the releasing of single elongated articles from a container containing a quantity of such articles, wherein the bottom of the container includes a part which is depressible and swings downwardly like a door to form a port through which the articles in one-by-one relationship may be dispensed at each actuation of said pant. On this part at the interior of the container, there are provided simple means which upon motion of the part to portopening position, cooperate with other fixed parts at an interior wall of the container to divide olf the entire pile of articles in the container from the single one which is being dispensed.

This invention relates to a one-by-one dispensing device particularly for elongated objects which are held parallel in a container. Whereas the details of construction both as to the actual dispensing operation and also to the loading or filling operation of the container with the articles may vary to a great degree, nevertheless it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a fully operational, nonmalfunctioning dispenser which will provide a user with a single such elongated article at each depression of a manually operated element. This invention provides for an extremely simplified and fully operational apparatus of the class described which is very inexpensive to manufacture, and can be made in the nature of a throw-away container which can be filled at the factory, used until empty, and then thrown away.

The objects of the invention are achieved in part by providing for a bottom opening release member which normally supports the next article to be dispensed, and several others which are disposed on it and adjacent it, in such a way that the release device comprises a door which may be depressed by the finger of the operator, releasing a single element or article which falls from the container, preferably including means for retaining the released object or dispensed member temporarily in exterior position with relation to the container, there being means provided for returning the door to its container-closed position.

Together with the above, extremely simple means is provided for retaining the remainder of the articles within the container while the one being dispensed is so operated upon alone.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in end elevation with part broken away illustrating the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in front elevation, parts being broken away;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view illustrating the action of the dispensing mechanism showing the container in closed position;

FIG. 4 is a similar view showing the same in dispensing position, and

FIG. 5 is a top plan view with the cover removed.

In carrying out the present invention, a container of any kind may be provided and this container may have a closed top or not as may be desired as will appear more fully hereinafter. In any event, the container is provided 3,412,896 Patented Nov. 26, 1968 ice with a partial fixed bottom member at 10, rear wall 12, front wall 14, and walls 16, and if desired a closure or cover 18 which may be permanent or temporary. The end walls 16 may be provided with permanent legs or pivoted or detachable legs indicated at 20, in order to raise the bottom 10 from the floor, table, or other supporting surface.

The partial bottom 10 is located adjacent rear wall 12 and has a forward bottom-completing part 22 hinged with respect thereto at 24 along an axis parallel to the longitudinal dimension thereof, so that the part 22 may be tilted downwardly in a clockwise direction as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, to open as a door. An appropriate fingerpiece or the like 26 may be provided for this purpose. Any kind of return mechanism such as springs 30 may be provided. The leaf springs shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 are exterior of the container and do not interfere with the operation thereof but it is of course apparent that other kinds of return devices may be utilized.

On the front wall 14 there are provided a pair of guiding clips 32, 32 which as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 curve gently inwardly to adjacent the bottom part 22. The movable bottom part may be stopped by the lower edge of the forward wall 14 or by these clips, but in any event the elongated articles are restricted to the left-hand side of these clips, see both FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.

Mounted on the upper surface of the pivotal part 22 of the floor 10 there are provided a pair of fixed members 36 which may be conveniently made of any material and cast, bent, etc. but in any event are attached to the part 22, extending up toward the rear and opening toward the front, so that there is an article-receiving recess 38 formed thereby. The top portions of these members form the top portion of the recess and then extend toward the rear as at 40 terminating in a free ended element. The free ends underlie an article support 42 hinged at 44 to the rear wall of the container.

The articles are shown in FIG. 3 'as numbered 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, although there will of course be many more of these articles piled up to fill the container. They are arranged longitudinally as shown at 46 in FIG. 2, the initial or first article to be dispensed lying by gravity in a position entered at least partially into the recess 38. Article number 2 rests partially on article 1 but mainly on the inwardly directed clips 32 and the other articles rest on them and on the rearwardly extending portions 40 of the members 36 and also on the member 42.

With the fingerpiece 26 pushed downwardly, i.e., clockwise in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the floor part 22 moves in the same direction and the members 36 move with it. This action moves the rearward free-ended portion 40 upwardly, also thus moving the article supporting member 42 upwardly, and this agitates the entire pile of articles within the container so as to free them against any possible sticking action for easy flow toward the dispensing port formed by the open bottom part 22, and which has been indicated at 50 in FIG. 4.

The [forward end portions of parts 40, i.e., t-op portions of the parts 36 forming recesses 38 move relatively to the right as the floor part 22 is depressed and these portions approach but do not necessarily contact the lower end edge of clips 32. This action divides article number 1 from article number 2 and all the other articles which are thus held in the position shown in FIG. 4 until the floor part 22 returns to its uppermost position as in FIG. 3.

When the floor part 22 is returned to such upward position by spring 30 or otherwise, the article number 2 will then assume the position that article number 1 had previously, and article number 3 assumes the previous position of article 2, etc.

In view of the above it will be seen that in each depression of the part 22, a single article only will be divided out from all of the other articles and will be dispensed. If desired, it can come to rest on a pair of forwardly extending arms 52.

It will be seen that this construction provides for an extremely simple one-byone dispensing of elongated articles even though they may not be cylindrical and means is provided to automatically agitate the articles in the container so as to provide for a smooth flow thereof. The cover 18 may be permanent or absent, or it may be removable, and it is a feature of the present invention that the entire container and all of the articles in it may be packed in sterile relationship at the factory and shipped in this form to be used; and when they are used, the container is so inexpensive as to be capable of being thrown away. On the other hand, if the cover 18 is openable, or if it is lacking, then the container may be refilled.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

1. A dispenser comprising a container having fixed rear, front and connecting side walls and a fixed partial bottom having one end thereof to the rear wall, a movable bottom part pivotally attached to the free end of said partial bottom generally completing the bottom of the container, means normally yieldably maintaining said bottom part in bottom-closed position, and means on said movable bottom part and a cooperating element at the interior of the adjacent front wall engaging and dividing the pile of articles in the container from a single article which i dispensed by gravity upon opening of said movable bottom part forming a dispensing port and an interior floor movably attached to the rear wall upon which the articles rest at least in part, the means on said movable bottom part engaging and supporting the free end of the movable fioor and moving it slightly at each movement of the movable bottom part, agitating the pile of articles in the container and providing for free flow thereof.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the means on the movable bottom part to divide the articles includes a member having a recess normally receiving a single elongated article to be next dispensed.

3. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the means on the movable bottom part to divide the articles includes a memher having a recess facing the front wall and normally receiving a single elongated article to be next dispensed.

4. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the means on the interior of the front wall extends downwardly and inwardly with respect thereto to a point adjacent the bottom of the container.

5. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the means on the movable bottom part to divide the articles includes a member having a recess facing the front wall and normally receiving a single elongated article to be next dispensed, the member including a top portion above the recess engaging and supporting subsequent articles.

6. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the means on the movable bottom part to divide the articles includes a member having a recess facing the front wall and normally receiving a single elongated article to be next dispensed, the member including a top portion above the recess engaging and supporting subsequent articles and approaching the element on front wall to a degree to prevent any subsequent articles falling into the recess until the movable bottom part returns to normal port closed position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 592,105 10/1897 Barnes 221-205 1,436,749 11/ 1922 Zeschmar 221-205 2,282,036 5/1942 Cobbs et al 221-200 2,370,747 3/1945 Negbadr et a1 221289 3,323,679 6/ 1967 Baller 221-200 WALTER SABIN, Primary Examiner. 

